The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-09-28
QUEER WEDDING CUSTOMS.
HOW THE MARITAL KNOT IS TIED
IN SOME COUNTRIES.
odd Ways Of People i'm India, Rou-
mania, in the Tyrol, and in Nor
wegian Villages.

odd Ways Of People in India, Rou-
mania, in the Tyrol, and in Nor
wegian Villages.
The Missionary Magazine describes the |
marriage customs Of She Red Karens OF |
| Burmah, which are not very different |
from those of other Karen tribes. When
young man wishes girl for his wife, he
| goes to her house and makes known to
her parents his Wishes and they question
him in reference to his relatives, and, if
| they find there is no one among his con-
nection who has been possessed with
evil spirits, the young man is accepted,
and the girl is called, who comes
out of the house and makes an ex-
animation of the youths back to see if he
has been tatooed according to the Red
Karen custom. If not, she will not marry
| him; if his back has the half-star with
seven rays she accepts him. In few
days or weeks after the engagement, the
marriage feast is made, which lasts three
days. The first day of the feast all the
people of the village gather together at
the bridegroom's house and eat rice and
drink whisky. At the first days feast
the bride is not present. The second day
all go to the brides house and spend an
other day in eating and drinking. At
the close of the second days feast, dish
of rice is placed on the floor. Then the
bride and bridegroom sit down near the
dish Of rice while the best man and
bridesmaid sit down between the bride
and bridegroom. The bridesmaid then
takes a handful of rice and feeds the
bride, while the best man does the same
with the groom. This is the marriage
ceremony. After the feast the newly
married pair remain with the brides
parents few days, while the people of
the village are building house for the
young couple. As soon as this is done
they get a rice-pot and set up for them
selves.
A remarkable custom exists among the
Roumanians living in the westerly Car
pathans. Every year, at the feast of the
Apostles Peter and Paul, a market is held
on the crest of the Gaina, from 1000 to
1000 feet above the level of the sea, and
here all the marriageable girls of the en-
tire district assemble with their parents
in order to be viewed and claimed.
Mothers, aunts, grandmothers, and vari
Gus other female friends contribute to the
dowry, and this completed, it is carried
to the market on the Gaina in neatly
made trunks, decorated with flowers, and
carried by the family's best horses.
Cattle, bees, and other household requi-
sites are also added to the dowry.
In some portions of Tyrol peculiar
and beautiful custom still prevails. When
a girl is about to be married, before she
leaves her home g. 90 to the church, heI
mother hands her handkerchief, which
is called ear-kerchief. 1t is made
of newly-spun linen, and has never been
used. 1t is with this kerchief that she
dries her tears when she leaves her
fathers house, and while she stands at
the altar. After the marriage is over,
and the bride has gone with her husband
to their new home she folds up the ker-
, chief and places it unwashed in her
, linen closet, where it remains untouched.
/ The tear-kerehief has only performed half
/ of its mission. Children are born, grow
, up, marry and move away from the old
home. Each daughter receives from the
mother a new tear r-kerchief. Her own
: still remains where it was placed in the
A closet on the day of the marriage. Gen
1 erations come and go. The young, rosy
a bride has become wrinkled old lady.
She may have survived her husband and
all her children. All her friends may
have died off, and still that last present
> which she received from her mother,
, has not fulfilled its object. But it
/, comes at last. At last the weary eyes
close for long, long sleep, and the tired,
. wrinkled hands are folded over the pulse
less heart. Then the tear -kerchief is
taken from its place and spread over the
placid features of the dead never to be
) removed until we are summoned to come
! forth on the resurrection morn.
1t takes good while for a village wed.
ding festival to be carried out in Norwe-
!, gian villages, sometimes rs long as q
week Beer, spirits, plenty TO eat, music,
dancing are the features. The guests
begin to assemble on the day before the
wedding. They are welcomed with
} ! plenty of spirits and beer by the bride and
groom. The village schoolmaster is al
- ways master of the ceremonies, and it is
he who invites the guests to the recep
l. ton meal. lie says grace. A psalm i,
: then sung to the accompaniment of two
! violins. The repast is simple and served
on the bare table. No plates are used
, but large, flat cakes of meal instead
: The night is speut lin reveling. The
| next morning at O'clock the wedding
t procession starts for the church. The
a bride always wears Il silver crown anC
/ silver ornaments. In some parts of tho
c kingdom she is clad in purple robe
c richly embroidered with gold, frequent
ly the heirloom of centuries. Sometime
e the way to church is by boat and some
o times on horseback Music leads th
D way. The march to church is neve
b halted, but when the party returns afte
= the church ceremony salute is fire,
G from every house along the route, and a
s every one the newly married pair aligh
. and partake Of beer. The journey HON
}. often takes a day, owing to this genera
4 joining in the festivities. .-Ne,0 York. Oh
c Serrer.